Fishing reel



April 22, 1952 E. RosNER 2,593,700

FISHING REEL Filed Sept. 27, 1946 2 SHEETS-SHEET l JNVENTOR. ERNEST ROSNER April 22, 1952 E. RosNER 2,593,700

FISHING REEL Filed Sept. 27, 1946 2 SHEETS--SHEET 2 INVENToR. ERNEST ROSNER BY FIG. IO 4 Patented pr. 22, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICES-'il' FISHING REEL Ernest Rosner, Chicago, Ill.

Application September 27, 1946, Serial No. 699,692

7 Claims.

This invention relates to fishing reels in general and more particularly to the wind-up mechanism for such reels. It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a simple winding clutch, and brake mechanism for fishing reels, particularly y casting type of iis'hing reels.

Some iiy casting types of iishing reels have heretofore been provided with a reciprocating or oscillating type of lever which could be actuated by one finger to produce a step -by step winding or reeling in of the line. It is with such shing reels that the present invention is concerned. It is an object of the present invention to provide a trigger operated wind-up mechanism which employs a simple type of gearing that does not easily get out of adjustment.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a clutch and brake mechanism for use with y casting reels wherein a simple spring pressed member between the driving and the driven parts of the mechanism is eiiectve to provide an overrunning clutch between the reel spool and its driver.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an improved clutch mechanism in a y casting reel wherein there is a slip friction coupling between the driving and the driven elements and wherein there is provided means for adjusting the tension of a spring that determines the magnitude of the friction coupling'.

The attainment of the above and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of the end of a fishing rod on which the present reel is applied;

Figure 2 is an end view of the iishing reel of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a side view of the fishing reel with the spool thereof removed;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the pawl and ratchet driving mechanism;

Figure 6 is an exploded view of the improved clutch mechanism; Y

Figure 7 is a front view of the clutch spring of the i-lshing reel;

Figure 8 is an end view thereof;

Figure 9 is a front view of the clutch spring adjusting cam; y

Figure 10 is an end view thereof; and

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the pawl carrier.

Reference may now be had more particularly to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate like parts throughout.

In the drawings there is shown at I a conventional type of fly casting shing rod to which a fishing reel 2 of the present invention is secured in the usual manner, as by means of a pair of rings 3-4 of which one is stationary and the other is longitudinally movable on the rod, said rings receiving the ends of a conventional reel seat 5 on the reel.

The reel 2 of the present invention comprises a frame on which is rotatably mounted a spool 9. 'I'he frame consists of a cup-shaped frame plate I0 having a back II and a cylindrical side I2 that terminates in a head flange ring I3. The head fiange ring I3 has secured thereto a tail flange ring I5 in any desired manner as, for instance, by means of spacer posts I6 and screws I'I threaded thereinto, as is usual in fishing reels.

At the center of the back I2 there is rigidly and non-rotatably mounted a spool shaft 20 as by means of a shaft screw 2| the shank of which threads into the spool 20 and the head of which bears against the plate I I. The shaft spool 20 has a peripheral flange 23 one face of which bears against the inside of the back II. The opposite face of the flange 23 locates the position of a pawl carrier 24 that ts on the spool shaft and is freely rotatable thereon. The pawl carrier consists of a sheet metal stamping having a round hole tting snugly around the spool shaft. At one end of the pawl carrier 24 there is pivoted a pawl 25 as by a pawl rivet 26 carried by the pawl carrier and serving as a fulcrum for the pawl 25. A pawl spring 21 is coiled about the pawl rivet 26. One end of the spring 2'I bears against a lug 28 on the pawl and forces it in a direction clockwise as seen in Figure 5. The opposite end of the spring bears against a lusr 29 which is an integral part of the pawl carrier 24 and extends upwardly therefrom. The lug 29 acts as a stop limiting the rotation of the pawl 25 in a direction clockwise as seen in Figure 5. The carrier 24 also has a flat head rivet 30 secured thereto which acts as a fulcrum for a link 3I The link 3| pivotally connects the pawl carrier 24 with an arm 34 of a bell crank trigger 35. The trigger is pivoted to the back II by a trigger fulcrum 31 consisting of a pin secured to the back II. The trigger 35 extends through an oversized slot in the wall I2 so that the trigger may be turned about the trigger fulcrum 31. A spring 38 is coiled about the trig ger fulcrum 31. One end of the spring bears against the inside periphery of the cylindrical side l2 of the frame plate and the other end of the spring bears against a lug 39 of the arm 34 to constantly urge the trigger in a direction clockwise as seen in Figure 4. The lug 39 is so located that as the outer end of the arm 34 approaches a position close to but not quite in contact with the cylindrical side l2 the lug 39 engages the side |2- and thus limits further turning of the trigger in a direction clockwise from the position illustrated in Figure 4. Y

The spool 9 is rotatably mounted upon the spool shaft 29. To that effect the spool 9 has-a tubular hub shaft 4a which is adaptedvtol slide over the spool shaft 29 and make a snug rotatingflt thereon. The hub shaft;bearsagainst a'short;

ange on the spool shaft whereby the hub shaft is kept out of engagement with the pawl carrier 24. A shaft screw 4I threads into the ends of thespooljshaftZt!A and holdsthe spool 9'fagainst retraction from the spool shaft 29. The huh.`

shaft has` an innerk reel disc or headplate 42*- and an outer'reel'disc or tailiplate drsecured thereto in the usual. manner. The.. ii'shi line-is wound about the spool between the discs: 42e-f4.3, Withvthe inner end Vofthexlinesecured to: theghubv shaft'as by' being passed'throughian openingv45 therein, as is well known in the art.

A stamped. metal ratchet'48iisfrotatably.mounteduponithe hub shafti49 andxis adaptedgtoVV be coupled'zwith` thespoolA byv means: of an ioverrunfning friction clutch 49 located;` between the ratchet andithedisc 42.; Thefclutch49i includes a spring rvdisc plate' 59 nonerotatably mountedoni the hub? shaft v40. Iov eiectthis .non-frotatable mounting; theVv hubV shaft has; a fiat surface.` 52 formedithereonwhich cooperates with-anat surface 53 atfa central hole in the clutch spring disc 59.- The clutch springgrdisc159falso has aseries ofv spring fingers 54 bent outwardly from the plane.r

of the clutch spring, which bending is facilitated.y by cutting through the spring -metal alongliiies of cut 55.Y The Viingers'54.4 bear against the-,inner side-of the ratchet 48 'and pushfthe-ratchetzin af direction away from theY discAZ. A lock spring ring 51 islsprung into a peripherall groove in the hub -shaft- 49-,and acts asaelimiting stop -to=-pref vent thespring disc-59` from pushing, the` ratchet 49 off ofthe-end of .the hub shaft 4IJ.v

Acainf plate 69 is interposed between the spring.

disc plate` 59 andthe innermdisc 42. This/cam platefisrcentered onthe hub shaft 49 and may.

beturnedwith respect to the hub shaftl through*- avery. limited angle as determined by-.an elchV gatedarcuate sloti in -thecarn plate; 59. through` which slot extends a screw 62 thatthreads intok a.

holel 63 intheinner disc 42.. The cam plate :69.

has aseriesof cams 64 formed'` therein, one. for

eachspringnger 54; When the cam platev 59.. f

and theclutch spring 50 are assembled the projecting cams- 94 are located immediatelyV under they respective upwardlypro-jecting spring fingersv 54.with.vthelcams 64A bearingV against the inner surfacesof thespring fingers 5.4and-withthe..

outer surfacesof the. springngers 5.4bearing against the ratchet. 38.. Angularr adjustmentof the, cam-BlLwith respectto thegcliitch springdisc 59 through theanglelimited by the sloti serves.

to changethe distancebetween the clutch. spring.

any turning of the ratchet 43 will tend to drag the spool with it, the spring 59 acting as a slip friction clutch between the ratchet 48 and the end plate 42 of the spool 9. It is also apparent that the spool 9 may be turned manually even if the ratchet 48 is held stationary. When this is done the spring 59 will slide on the surface of the ratchet 48.

To facilitate turning of the "spool the outer disc r43 isrprovided with a handleiy rotatable upon a handle'stud 61 that is secured to the outer disc 43. Turning of the handle 65 results in turning of the spool 42. When the spool is turned tooth `Vofgthe ratchet .passesrthe pawl v25A-it moves the pawl vout ofthe .way-.of a tooth, thus .resulting in-a clicking action. Y

The trigger 35andthe link-age connecting itI holding the. rod. Each time the triggertais.k

pulled upwardly it,.inoves from the. positionillusf tratedinfulllines to thatillustratedin dotted.-

lines in Figuref4. Insomoving-the trigger arm` 34Y forcesrthelinkv 3 Ldownwardly. and thus forces.

the pawl carrier 24 in turninadirection clockf wise vas seen inY Figure 4, from .the position illustrated infull lines to. the. position illustrated in dottedlines, at which time the end 36.0f the trigger arm 34abutsvagainst,the pawl .carrier.24 and limits further. turningofthe pawl carrier and.

limits furtherturningof thetrigger. This limiting action is obtained due to the fact thatthe arin 34. andthe pawl carrier 24.are in the same plane. During the. movement. of the. trigger 34 fromthe full to thedotted line position lthe pawl 2 5.is in engagement with the, teeth of the ratchet.

48 and. causes the ratchet to move with it, in this instance through an angle slightlyless than .120".

When the trigger is released the spring 38returns.

it and` the 'associated linkage fromV the dotted line` position of v Figure 4 to the. full ,line position. As it` moves to that. position the. pawl 25 rides over` the teethn of. theV ratchet, clicking I past each tooth under the action of the spring-21,v but. not

' dragging the ratchet with it due to, .the fact that the -ratchet isfcoupled to the` spool ,by the clutch 49. If there isno .drag onpthe fishing line .each turn of thetriggen may move thev spool through an angle appreciably more than, 120 duev tolthe fact that-aslthe trigger-movesgand the pawliinparts motion tothe ratchet theratchet may have considerable inertia when the pawl reaches. its

limit of motion. The ratchet; with thespool attached, may therefore continuato Atravel under itsineitia..

From the-abovedescription it--is apparent that I have provideda simplel` and; economical mechanical drive between the trigger 35vand the spoolA 9. The essential .parts of the driving connection may be made of simple stampings and there are but fewy parts thatcan getoutof order. If `itis desired to adjust` the tension ofthe spring clutch it is merely necessary to loosen asingle screw and then slip thefspooloutof the reel. The

s, spool carriesy with,-it;fthe clutch and the ratchet 48.

Incompliance with the` req-uirementsof the patent statutes I have hereshown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention. It is, however, to be understood thatr the invention is not limited to the precise construction here shown, the same being merely,illustrative-of the principles of the invention. What I consider new and desire to secureby.;-Letters l?atent is:

1. A fishing reel comprisingja rotatable spool, a pawland ratchet mechanism for actuatingthe spool, said mechanism including a- .ratchet mounted for rotation about an axis coincident with the axis of rotation of the spool and rotatable with respect to the spool, a spring disc between the ratchet and the spool for causing the ratchet to exert a friction drag on the spool, said spring disc having a plurality of spring fingers extending out of the plane of the disc, an adjustable cam disc backing the spring disc and having camming surfaces cooperating with the spring fingers to control the forces exerted thereby, said two discs being angularly adjustable to vary the forces exerted by the spring ngers, and means for locking the two discs against relative movement with respect to one yanother out of their adjusted positions.

2. A fishing reel comprising a rotatable spool, a pawl and ratchet mechanism for actuating the spool, said mechanism including a ratchet rotatably mounted on the spool for rotation about an axis coincident with the axis of rotation of the spool, a spring disc between the ratchet and the spool and non-rotatable with respect to the spool for causing the ratchet to exert a friction drag on the spool, said spring disc having a plurality of spring fingers extending out of the plane of the disc, an adjustable cam disc mounted on the spool and backing the spring disc and having camming surfaces cooperating with the spring fingers to control the forces exerted thereby, said cam disc being angularly adjustable on the spool to vary the forces exerted by the spring fingers, and means for locking the disc in its angularly adjusted position on the spool.

3. A fishing reel comprising a cup-shaped frame plate, a spool shaft mounted thereon, a spool rotatable on the shaft, said spool having inner and outer discs of which the inner disc comprises substantially a closure for the cup-shaped frame plate, a spool driving ratchet mounted on the spool but rotatable about the central axis thereof, a spring friction clutch between the ratchet and the inner disc establishing a slip friction coupling between the ratchet and the spool, said clutch comprising a spring between the ratchet and the spool and causing the ratchet to exert a friction drag on the spool, said spring disc having a plurality of spring fingers extending out of the plane of the disc, and an adjustable cam disc backing the spring disc and having camming surfaces cooperating with the spring fingers to control the forces exerted thereby, said two discs being angularly adjustable to vary the forces exerted by the spring fingers.

4. A fishing reel comprising a cup-shaped frame plate, a spool shaft mounted thereon, a spool rotatable on the shaft, said spool having inner and outer discs of which the inner disc comprises substantially ar closure for the cupshaped frame plate, a spool driving ratchet mounted on the spool but rotatable about the central axis thereof, a spring friction clutch between the ratchet and the inner disc establishing a slip friction coupling between the ratchet the ratchetto exert a friction dragaon the spool,

said spring; disc having a plurality of spring;

lingers extending out, off the planeof the disc,

an ladjustable 'cam` disc backing thel spring disc andhaving cammingsurfaces cooperating with the spring fingers tocontrolthe forces exertedv thereby, saidtwo. discs being angularly adjustable to vary the forces exerted by the spring fingers, and means for locking the two discs against relativemovemen-t with respect to one another out of their adjustedpositions- 5. A fishing reel comprising a cup-shaped frame plate, a spool shaft mounted thereon, a spool rotatable on the shaft, said spool having inner and outer discs of which the inner disc comprises substantially a closure for the cupshaped frame plate, a spool driving ratchet mounted on the spool but rotatable about the central axis thereof, a spring friction clutch between the ratchet and the inner discestablishing a slip friction coupling between the ratchet and the spool, said clutch comprising a spring between the ratchet and the spool and causing the ratchet to exert a friction drag on the spool, said spring disc having a plurality of spring fingers extending out of the plane of the disc,

an adjustable cam disc backing the spring disc and having camming surfaces cooperating with the spring iingers to control the forces exerted thereby, said two discs being angular-ly adjustable to vary the forces exerted by the spring fingers, a pawl carrier mounted in said cup-shaped frame plate for rotation about an axis coincident with the spool axis, a pawl on said carrier cooperating with said ratchet, an operating trigger pivoted on the inside of the frame plate and projecting therefrom, and a link connecting the trigger with the pawl carrier.

6. A fishing reel comprising a cup-shaped frame plate, a spool shaft mounted thereon, a spool rotatable on the shaft, said spool having inner and outer discs of which the inner disc comprises substantially a closure for the cupshaped frame plate, a spool driving ratchet mounted on the spool but rotatable about the central axis thereof, a spring friction clutch between the ratchet and the inner disc establishing a slip friction coupling between the ratchet and the spool, said clutch comprising a spring between the ratchet and the spool and causing the ratchet to exert a friction drag on the spool, said spring disc having a plurality of spring fingers extending out of the plane of the disc,

an adjustable cam disc backing the spring disc and having camming surfaces cooperating with the spring iingers to control the forces exerted thereby, said two discs being angularly adjustable to vary the forces exerted by the spring fingers, means for locking the two discs against relative movement with respect to one another out of their adjusted positions, a pawl carrier mounted in said cup-shaped frame plate for rotation about an axis coincident with the spool axis, a pawl on said carrier cooperating with said ratchet, an operating trigger pivoted on the inside of the frame plate and projecting therefrom, and a link connecting the trigger with the pawl carrier.

7. A fishing reel comprising a rotatable spool, a pawl and ratchet mechanism for actuating the spool, said mechanism including a ratchet mounted for rotation about an axis coincident with the axis of rotation of the spool and rotatable with respect to the spool, a spring disc between the ratchet and the spool for causing the ratchet to exert a frictionrdrag on the spool,v and an adjustable cam disc for controlling the force exerted by the spring disc, said two discs being angularly adjustable, andrmeans for locking the two discs against relative movement wthrespect to one another out of their adjusted positions.

ERNEST ROSNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 111e of this patent:

Number lo Number 8 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Rechardt Dec. 17, 1907 Adams Oct. 19, 1926 Maynes Jan. 16, 1934 Fiscus Nov. 18, 1941 Cooper et al. Oct. 14, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Oct. 2, 1913 Australia Feb. 

